If I had been able to go I should have asked at the door for 'my wife.' You are going in my place--" "And I must ask at the door for 'my wife,' or I shall expose Miss Silvester to unpleasant consequences ?" "You don't object ?" "Not I! I don't care what I say to the people of the inn.

It's the meeting with Miss Silvester that I'm afraid of." "I'll put that right for you--never fear!" He went at once to the table and rapidly scribbled a few lines--then stopped and considered.

"Will that do ?" he asked himself.

"No; I'd better say something spooney to quiet her." He considered again, added a line, and brought his hand down on the table with a cheery smack.
"That will do the business! Read it yourself, Arnold--it's not so badly written." Arnold read the note without appearing to share his friend's favorable opinion of it.
"This is rather short," he said.
"Have I time to make it longer ?" "Perhaps not.

But let Miss Silvester see for herself that you have no time to make it longer.